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Sunday, May 28, 2017

Fandom Mashups is an original feature here at Lunar Rainbows Reviews. Every week, I propose a unique fictional scenario and then we build our own personal dream team of five fictional characters from five different fandoms to complete the task! Anyone is welcome to join up - all I ask is that you link back to me somewhere in your post :)

Happy Sunday all! I'm sorry I'm a bit late, I just got back from a wonderful albeit exhausting hike in a local national park! We left super early so I didn't get to post before I left. Better late than never right?

"Those patient Hufflepuffs are true and unafraid of toil" - Pick 5 characters from other fandoms that you think would fit in well in Hufflepuff House! The 11th Doctor

The 11th has been fancast as a Hufflepuff time and time again and I tend to agree! He's friendlier and kinder than his other incarnations and that gentle soul just speaks to the Puff in me :) #GryffinPuffPride

Lirael

I debated putting saving Lirael for Ravenclaw - since she works in a library - but she mainly takes the job to be alone. From there, she dedicates herself to learning magic until she finds 'Lirael's Path' and sets off on her quest. She's determined and loyal just like her companion The Disreputable Dog ♥

Pavel Chekov

Chekov is brave like a Gryffindor and brilliant like a Ravenclaw but something about his gentle spirit and innocence makes him seem like he'd fit in perfectly in Hufflepuff - plus he's already wearing yellow LOL!

Molly Hooper

Molly seems like another natural 'Puff to me with her unassuming nature and her dedication to her friends. We all know she works damn hard 100% of the time so she'd surely make her fellow Hufflepuffs proud!

Noah Czerny

This last one is cheating since author Maggie Stiefvater herself sorted Noah into Hufflepuff but I couldn't resist - you know I love my Raven Boys! Noah is so sweet and fans of the series know he busted his ass to help his friends when the needed him.

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Harry Potter Moment of the Week was created by Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts and is hosted here @Lunar Rainbows Reviews. The idea is to share a favorite moment, magical item, character, spell, quote or memory from the books, films or J.K.Rowling herself! How to join up & upcoming topics here.

Hi! Hi! I hope everyone's week is going ok? We're doing one of my favorite topics today, recommending books to our favorite Harry Potter characters. Though this week's picks might not seem like avid readers, I'm willing to be we can find books to pique their interest:

Which books would you recommend to Fred and George?

Percy Jackson/ Heroes of Olympus - Something about the humor in Riordan's books just screams 'Weasley twins' to me - I think they'd both enjoy the mythological aspects too.

The Bartimaeus Sequence - Bartimaeus' sass would make the twins howl with mirth but the complex magical system and politics here would surely speak to them as well.

Artemis Fowl - The specific type of humor in the Artemis Fowl books reminds me of the Weasley twins a lot. There's sass but then there's crude humor too plus some serious action. This could very well be a favorite for them!Avatar: The Last Airbender - Finally, if anyone would get Sokka's humor more than Fred and George, I haven't come across them yet. And a young, innocent boy setting out to save the world (friends included!) should feel familiar enough don't you think?

Sunday, May 21, 2017

Fandom Mashups is an original feature here at Lunar Rainbows Reviews. Every week, I propose a unique fictional scenario and then we build our own personal dream team of five fictional characters from five different fandoms to complete the task! Anyone is welcome to join up - all I ask is that you link back to me somewhere in your post :)

Happy Sun-day everyone! I hope you're enjoying the weekend, or long weekend for my fellow Canadians :) I'm always off Mondays though so it doesn't change much for me LOL! I'm still going to make the most of the sunshine though! But before I do, we're talking introverts today:

I think Harry is a classic introvert. He could have had an entourage at Hogwarts but instead he selected a few select people to hang out with. He always tries to do things alone, though that may be because solitude was thrust upon him at an early age...

Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock said so himself: he doesn't have any friends. Just one. He prefers to be (mostly) alone because he thinks everyone else is stupid. Personally it seems like a lot of introverts can relate to that - and why Sherlock is such a lasting literary figure.

Castiel

My precious Castiel. He's so awkward, I just love him to bits! Castiel's people skills have never been anything but rusty. And I hope he never changes because seeing him struggle through it makes me seem like an extrovert LOL!

Batman

Batman chose to be mostly friendless to protect the people he cares about...but I suppose being a billionaire orphan didn't make things easy for him. Nevertheless his 'lone wolf' persona is what drew me to him in my youth and through adulthood.

Feyre Archeron

Feyre lived a life of solitude before ACOTAR kicked off and even once things kicked off for her, she's kept her circle relatively small. Something that has persisted throughout the series thus far. It's one of the many reasons I like her. Well, that and Rhys. Bonus:Lisa Simpson

The most classic introvert I could think of - when it comes to my life anyway. Lisa might sometimes long for friends but more often than not, she's comfortable in her solitude and among her books. A girl after my own heart!

Squidward Tentacles

Squidward is my spirit animal when I'm feeling my most anti-social. He just cracks me up because he says what most introverts are feeling. And the poor guy has to live next to and work with THE most extroverted sponge of all time XD

The Raven Boys + Blue

I know the Raven Crew has five members, but with the exception of Gansey maybe, none of them are particularly welcoming of other people. That's why it's so precious how Blue fits in with the boys so seamlessly. And why most of us wish we could be welcomed into the group too!

Sabriel and Lirael

Lirael might be the most classic introvert of the two leading ladies but Sabriel sets off on her journey totally alone so I think they both fit the bill. They're both fiercely independent and their circles are limited to a select few - with animals taking up nearly half the group LOL!

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Harry Potter Moment of the Week was created by Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts and is hosted here @Lunar Rainbows Reviews. The idea is to share a favorite moment, magical item, character, spell, quote or memory from the books, films or J.K.Rowling herself! How to join up & upcoming topics here.

Happy Thursday Potterheads! I wish you all a magical day ♥ Today we're talking about everyone's favorite House Elf:

Favorite Dobby Moment?

My favorite Dobby moment(s) are literally every single moment from the books that they ended up giving to another character in the films. Namely, how Dobby helped Harry out by providing him with Gillyweed in GoF and I especially love how Dobby was the one who found the Room of Requirement in OotP! It makes sense because as a House Elf, he can remain unseen and therefore be privy to private conversations and information. Having him at Hogwarts after CoS was priceless.

I truly wish that Dobby had been in the films where he was cut out, because you see how much of a constant he becomes in Harry's life after CoS...which makes things in DH so much more meaningful ♥ He helped Harry's cause it more ways than casual film watchers can imagine!

Sunday, May 14, 2017

Fandom Mashups is an original feature here at Lunar Rainbows Reviews. Every week, I propose a unique fictional scenario and then we build our own personal dream team of five fictional characters from five different fandoms to complete the task! Anyone is welcome to join up - all I ask is that you link back to me somewhere in your post :)

Happy Sunday Funday and Happy Mother's Day for all the moms and moms to fur babies alike! It's a gorgeous spring day around here and I'm off to take full advantage of that soon with a nice nature hike...but before I do we've got a bit of a mixup going on here:

Hero and Villain Mix-Up! Pair up 5 heros with 5 villains from OTHER fandoms (Example: Iron-Man VS Mr. Burns LOL) and comment on who you think would come out on top.Harry Potter VS Sauron

I'd love to see The Boy Who Lived face another super-villain that simply refuses to die. Harry's a pro on this stuff by now. Naturally, my money's on Harry and I know he would never have succumbed to the ring's power either. He denied Voldy time and time again and we know how close He Who Must Not Be Named was to him...

Sabriel VS Voldemort

Sabriel is a total expert when it comes to dealing with the un-dead. As a good Necromancer, her job is basically keeping bad Necromancer's in their place. She's faced true horrors with Kerrigor and the Destroyer so I think she could handle Voldemort as well as Harry did - with a little help.

The Doctor VS Lucifer

Oh the sparks would fly here and I'd be loving every minute of it. The Doctor faced some...thing that was basically monster Lucifer so I think he could handle him in his human form...but Lucifer is crafty af so this could easily turn into a Doctor/Master type of ongoing rivalry. #SignMeUp

Sherlock VS The Master

Sherlock is basically a variation on The Doctor (or vice-versa) and The Master is basically a variation on Moriarty (or vice-versa) so I'd love to see this flip and the chemistry that would ensue. The Master is a genius but if the Doctor can keep him in check (mostly) I think Sherlock could too - if not, bring on the multiple face offs!

Sam+Dean VS Kerrigor

Kerrigor is an evil Necromancer of outstanding power...but Sam and Dean have faced demons, zombies, ghosts, LUCIFER himself...and even the anti-God. It might be one hell of a fight but the Winchesters, can not, will not quit. I trust my boys to take care of this.

Friday, May 12, 2017

Three years have passed since the magician Nathaniel helped prevent a cataclysmic attack on London. Now an established member of the British Government, he faces unprecedented problems: foreign wars are going badly; Britain's enemies are mounting attacks close to London; and rebellion is fomenting among the commoners. Increasingly imperious and distracted, Nathaniel is treating Bartimaeus worse than ever. The long-suffering djinni is growing weak and vulnerable from too much time in this world and is nearing the end of his patience.Meanwhile, Nathaniel's longtime rival Kitty has been stealthily completing her research on magic, demons, and Bartimaeus' past. She has a daring plan that she hopes will break the endless cycle of conflict between djinn and humans. But will anyone listen to what she has to say?In this glorious conclusion to the Bartimaeus trilogy, the destinies of Bartimaeus, Nathaniel, and Kitty converge once more. Together the threesome faces treacherous magicians, a complex conspiracy, and a rebellious faction of demons. To survive, they must test the limits of this world and question the deepest parts of themselves. And most difficult of all-they will have to learn to trust one another.

Ptolemy's Gate is the stunning conclusion to the Bartimaeus Trilogy, which is officially one of the best YA fantasy series I've read in a long time. As it tends to be with really, really good books, the ending feels like it came to soon because I'm not ready to leave this world...and these characters but the series wrapped up in such an explossive way that I can't fault author Jonathan Stroud for finishing his trilogy when he did. Nevertheless, I would happily read many more books set in this world with these characters.

What makes this series so unique is that every single character is a shades-of-gray character. Not a single one of them is wholly good, or wholly evil, and while that makes them more real, it also makes their struggles and their victories all the more touching. Our main character Nathaniel, is the perfect example of this and his character arc is spectacular because of it. There is a significant evolution to his character but not in the way one would expect when you start the series. In no way is his journey that of a typical YA fantasy protagonist. His relationship with the Demon or Djinni Bartimaeus is likewise nothing like you'd expect going in. Throughout the series, they've had a tense partnership at best but in the conclusion to the series, they both go through so much, it can't help but alter them in drastic ways. Ptolemy's Gate also features remarkable insight into Bartimaeus' past - namely his previous relationship with his previous master, Ptolemy -which I have to say I was craving for a very long time. Those flashbacks did not disappoint in the least! Not to be outdone, Kitty becomes an even more integral piece of the narrative than she previously was. As a Commoner, she has unique insight and skills that she puts to amazingly good use here...and not a moment too soon. Yeah, in case it wasn't obvious: shit gets intense here. And fast.

Beyond the characters, Stroud focusses on class struggles, here between The Magicians and The Commoners and also between The Magicians and The Demons. Historically, The Magicians have held all of the power but there is unrest among The Commoners and likewise amongst the Demons. All of those elements come to a head in Ptolemy's Gate but it's how things unravel that makes this series so unique. I know I've categorized the series as YA-fantasy but like the superior YA-fantasy stories, the Bartimaeus Sequence has immense crossover appeal as Adult Fantasy. The series has been described as:

The book and series are about the power struggles in a magical dystopia centered in London, England featuring a mixture of modern and ancient, secular and mythological themes. The series has been described as a darker, more political and morally complex version of Harry Potter.

Wow. Right? Coming from one of the biggest Potterheads on the planet, I don't take quotes like this lightly but I have to say that I mostly agree with that quote. I'm not saying it's better than Harry Potter (blasphemy!) and I'm not sure it's darker or more morally complex than my favorite series but it certainly holds it's own when compared to it and other quality works of fantasy-fiction. It's an intelligent, layered and quite frankly haunting piece of fiction.

The ending of Ptolemy's Gate is bitter-sweet, which should be expected with such a morally gray series but still, my heart aches for these characters even though I know it couldn't have gone down any other way. I can't help but wish that things could have been different, or that there might be another book someday that makes my heartbreak lessen. That's the true mark of quality fiction though isn't it? I'd recommend the trilogy to every single YA-fantasy reader that ever lived and I'd especially recommend the audiobook version narrated by Simon Jones who brings an impressive mix of gravitas, humor, atmosphere and sass to this world and it's characters. I will absolutely be re-reading and/or re-listening to this series again and again.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Harry Potter Moment of the Week was created by Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts and is hosted here @Lunar Rainbows Reviews. The idea is to share a favorite moment, magical item, character, spell, quote or memory from the books, films or J.K.Rowling herself! How to join up & upcoming topics here.

Hi Potterheads! Happy Thursday :) I hope everyone's week is going smoothly so far? At least it's Friday tomorrow LOL! We have a 'Free Week' this week and I really struggled with what topic to chose. I always enjoy putting up free weeks because it opens up creativity from other people but when it's my turn to pick a topic, I sit scratching my head. Anyway, I finally picked something from the newer Wizarding World news:

In case you missed it, Queen J.K. was asked by a fan to divulve Newt Scamander's Patronus and she basically said: SPOILERS! *read morehere* ...so while I hadn't really thought about Newt's Patronus up until now, I'm currently dying of curiosity as to what his Patronus could be...and what it would reveal about his character that could be so important as to make it a spoiler?!

Do you guys have any ideas? Thoughts? Theories? Please spill them below! Obviously Newt isn't saying anything^^ and neither is Miss Rowling. We might have to wait until the next movie comes out...or worst...until the last movie comes out! Yikes!

Monday, May 8, 2017

Fandom Mashups is an original feature here at Lunar Rainbows Reviews. Every week, I propose a unique fictional scenario and then we build our own personal dream team of five fictional characters from five different fandoms to complete the task! Anyone is welcome to join up - all I ask is that you link back to me somewhere in your post :)

Hello all! Oops, I'm a day late in posting my Fandom Mashup post this week (again) - I went out hiking bright and early yesterday...figured I'd post when I got back but clearly that didn't happen LOL! In any case, here's our scenario of the week:

You're trapped in an elevator when the power goes out (damn Muggle technology) - and using magic to get yourself out isn't an option (Statute of Secrecy and all that) so which characters would you prefer to spend that time with?The Doctor

I'm sorry but if I'm to be stuck anywhere for an indefinite amount of time, I want it to be with this man. The Doctor IS the list. He's unpredictable, funny, charming and given some time, I hope to convince him to take me into another kind of box - once we get out of the elevator of course.

Albus Dumbledore

Any opportunity to pick Dumbledore's brain would be amazing and I'm sure the conversation with him would be sparkling from start to finish. I just hope he doesn't confuse the Doctor for Barty Crouch Jr. LOL!

Castiel

Castiel is strange, random, powerful, old, wise and awkward. I think he'd fit in wonderfully with the present company. I'd LOVE to see him, The Doctor and Dumbledore together for any amount of time. Imagine the topics up for discussion!

John Watson

I just basically want to hang out with John Watson. All the time. I can imagine he'd laugh at Castiel, be impressed by Dumbledore (which is saying something) and probably think The Doctor reminds him of someone...

Ronan Lynch

Ronan would basically be me in a situation like this: impatient, cranky and vulgar. So I'm bringing him along so we can swear together and hopefully he can teach me how to act like I don't care about everyone else in the elevator, so I can at least seem cool...while I fangirl to my death.

Friday, May 5, 2017

After his last run-in with the fairies, Artemis Fowl had his mind wiped of his memories of the world belowground. Any goodness he had grudgingly learned is now gone, and the young genius has reverted to his criminal lifestyle.Artemis is in Berlin preparing to steal a famously well-guarded painting from a German bank. Little does he know that his every move is being watched by his cunning old rival, Opal Koboi. The evil pixie has spent the last year in a self-induced coma, plotting her revenge on all those who foiled her attempt to destroy the LEPrecon fairy police. And Artemis is at the top of her list. In a brilliant move, Opal escapes by cloning herself and masquerading as a human in order to carry out her schemes. Her first act is to lure Captain Holly Short and Commander Root into a deadly trap. her next step is to destroy Artemis by turning his own genius against him.Once again, it's up to Artemis Fowl to stop the human and fairly worlds from colliding—only this time, Artemis faces an enemy who may have finally outsmarted him...

The Opal Deception is a truly solid addition to the Artemis Fowl Series and I have to say that with every book I read, I find myself having more and more fun with this series. I'm kicking myself for not getting into these books sooner but at the same time, they're just so perfect right now that I can't help but feel like the timing is spot on. I can totally get why so many Potterheads were also obsessed with these books too when both the series' were coming out!

The Opal Deception picks up soon after the events of The Eternity Code but it's a whole different ball game considering how the previous book ended. It isn't too long before the things take a decididely drastic turn for the worst and our heros find themselves caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse with a familiar and exceedingly devious enemy. I don't know if it's because I'm getting more familiar with all of the characters so they're starting to feel like old friends but I was very impressed by how every single character grew and how the bonds of friendship solidified throughout this ragtag group of humans and fairies. So since I'm reviewing a book mid-series, instead of talking plot, I'm going to take a closer look at the group of main characters.

First there's Artemis of course, the titular character. Artemis is quite conflicted at the start of this book but when his past clicks with the present, he's better able to reconcile his confusion and come to terms with what kind of person he wants to be. Despite some epiphanies, Artemis remains ruthless, cunning and brilliant beyond even what I've come to expect. I love that as a main character in MG/YA fiction, Artemis is flawed and not prone to heroics. His successes come from his brilliance but he's severely lacking in the physical department, something that causes him his fair share of issues this time around.

Butler, the other human in this crew, is Artemis' bodyguard and confidante. Butler is your typical action hero yes, but his relationship with the boy genius Artemis is beyond endearing and somewhat at odds with his tough guy persona. I love how Butler will do whatever it takes to get the job done -whatever the job may be. I also really enjoy his easy rapport with the rest of the characters. He's intimidating as fuck but he's also snarky and great at thinking on his feet.

Holly Short is a character I took to straight away but with every new instalment in the series, I like her more and more. She's brilliant, there's no other way to put this. Holly has a rough time in The Opal Deception - even more so than everyone else but she keeps her head on straight and she never, ever loses her resolve. As a Fairy, and a member of the LEP (Fairy Police) she's seen her fair share of action, but she's never dealt with anything quite on the level that she does here and she was bloody amazing.

Mulch is once again thrown into the fray, almost against his better judgement (again) but his unique skill set as a dwarf never fails to surprise me. Honestly, I think that the Mythology in the Artemis Fowl Series is nothing short of fantastic. It's impressive how well developped everything is and how immersive the entire world becomes because of it!

And finally, Foaly, the centaur and brains behind the scenes. Foaly has yet to see any action other than behind a computer but that's where he shines so I'm ok with that. Foaly is sassy and snarky but he's also brilliant so he can get away with it. Foaly is indispensable in the best of times but in this instalment, he was a real life-saver.

I won't say much about the plot of The Opal Deception, given that this is the fourth book in the series and the fact that it relies heavily on the plot of the second book... but I will say this: it was thrilling from start to finish and brilliantly executed. The stakes were much higher than they'd previously been and our heroes suffered some losses but the way they came together was simply beautiful. The Mythology in this series is rich and deep, the characters are wonderfully fleshed out and the pacing was tight from the first page to the last. Bring on The Lost Colony!

Thursday, May 4, 2017

Harry Potter Moment of the Week was created by Leah @ Uncorked Thoughts and is hosted here @Lunar Rainbows Reviews. The idea is to share a favorite moment, magical item, character, spell, quote or memory from the books, films or J.K.Rowling herself! How to join up & upcoming topics here.

Hello Potterheads and May the 4th be with my fellow Star Wars fans and geeks alike! We've got another impossible ''would you rather'' scenario today so let's get to it:

Would you rather take Transfiguration class through McGonagall or Dumbledore?

Oh man, don't make me choose! Can't it be both?! I want to study under both of these amazing mentors. I know Dumbledore had the post of Transfiguration Professor before McGonagall so wouldn't it be great to have started off with Dumbledore and then halfway through our Magical education, Dumbledore would have become Headmaster and we would have finished off with McGonagall? THAT's the dream. If I *have* to choose, I'd go with McGonagall because I love and admire her but also because I think she's a brilliant Transfiguration Professor and I need that in my life. I will add however that I hope that Dumbledore will take me under his wing for private tutoring ;)